Michigan conference on peak oil & climate change May 30

“We're prepared for up to 1,000 participants,” said conference organizer Aaron Wissner of Middleville, Michigan. “With the outstanding selection of expert speakers, the only challenge now is getting the word out. The conference is timely, it is important, and it sells itself.”

Wissner decided to host the conference after concerns over rising gasoline prices led him to discover the concept of peak oil. Earlier this year, Wissner was interviewed by Wall Street Journal reporter Neil King, Jr. for a front page article on his efforts to adjust to a future he sees as full of uncertainty.

“Rising gasoline prices, food prices, and mortgage rate are just the beginning,” said Wissner. “This conference addresses oil prices head on, and tells the story of how our reliance on cheap, abundant petroleum have left us vulnerable to the biggest economic shock ever imagined.”

Over forty speakers, from around the USA and Canada, are traveling to Grand Rapids to share their expertise for the three day event. Featured presenters include authors and peak oil educators Richard Heinberg, Dr. David Goodstein, Megan Quinn Bachman, Julian Darley, Stephanie Mills and Pat Murphy.

Peak oil is a shorthand term for when global oil extraction reaches an all time maximum. After this point, global oil extraction will shrink as those oil fields with naturally declining production outnumber and overwhelm the fields with increasing production. Dozens of oil producing countries are already in decline. In recent weeks, both Russia and Saudi Arabia announced that decreased production should be expected in the future.

“The USA is the most vulnerable of all to changes in the oil market,” said Wissner. “For us, it isn't global peak oil isn't the biggest concern. It's all about the net global oil exports. This appears to already be in decline, and the rate of decline may be extremely fast. That should be a wake up call to everyone.”

For a conference just over three months in the making, the line up of over forty speakers is impressive.

U.S. Representative Vernon Ehlers has provided a video invitation on the conference web site. Ehlers is a former nuclear physicist and member of the congressional peak oil caucus. He is also contributing a short video overview of the concept of peak oil and oil depletion.

Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell opens the conference on the evening of May 30. Heartwell is a leader within the association of mayors, particularly on energy conservation and climate change action. Grand Rapids boasts the most LEED certified buildings per capita of any city in the USA.

Rather focusing solely on the topic of oil and natural gas depletion, the “Sustainability Conference“ delves into related fields of interest including climate change, biodiversity loss, and population growth. The conference itself is divided into two roughly equal halves.

In the first half, from Friday afternoon until Saturday afternoon, participants focus on the pressing problems in the energy, environmental, and economic fields. A dozen breakout tracks focus on sustainability challenges for transportation, electricity generation, home heating, industrial farming, animal agriculture, food distribution, the product chain, media transparency, and more.

The second half of the conference begins Saturday evening and continues through the end of the conference on Sunday afternoon. This portion begins with an in-depth discussion of the concept of sustainability. An array of solutions are presented to reduce the negative impacts of peak oil, climate change and related problems of unsustainability.

“With gasoline prices, food prices, mortgage rates combining with generally increasing inflation and increasing unemployment, I think this is probably the most timely conference ever,” says Wissner. “This conference brings concepts of peak oil and sustainability front and center, so that, as a nation and a world, we can get serious about addressing what are probably the greatest challenges ever faced by humanity.”

The decision to host the conference was made in January of this year. Since then, the majority of Wissner's free time has been dedicated to securing speakers, the venue, and keeping the web site up to date. Wissner is assisted by a small committee of dedicated volunteers. He is also supported by sponsorship from the Post Carbon Institute and Crystal Mountain Ski and Golf Resort.

“Without their help, this event never would have been possible,” said Wissner.

With a full time job as a public school educator, Aaron Wissner needs all the help he can get. He also has a new baby in the household. He spends many late night sessions on the computer and the phone, working out conference details. Getting the word out about the conference has been the biggest challenge.

Wissner and his wife, Kimberly Sager, are also assuming the entire financial risk of the conference. That could be a big risk for the middle-income family, as the conference expenses are estimated at over $20,000. If there is net revenue, it will all be tied up in the Local Future nonprofit, which is restricted to 501(c)(3) activities.

Regardless of the risks and challenges, Wissner is both positive and optimistic.

“I decided that to get the word out on peak oil, I'd have to put my money on the line. This is a bigger financial risk than I'd expected, but it's the best way I could think of to educate everyone on what is really happening with gasoline prices. The future is going to depend on us pulling together to weather this transition. I'm just trying to do my small part to help make cooperation a reality.”

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